Valve mechanism



April 22, 1952 W. H. BROWN VALVE MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 3, 1944FIG. 1. 55 2 39 40 s n; ,Z/

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WESLEY H,. ancwlm' Patented Apr. 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT l OFFICEOriginal application November 3, 1944, Serial No. 561,755. Divided andthis application June 7, 1946, SerialNo. 675,135

4 Claims.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial Number561,755 for hydraulic control, filed November 3, 1944, since abandoned.and relates to a valve mechanism particularly adapted for, but notlimited to vehicle steering. The main object of the invention is toprovide a valve including a movable element permitting in one positionthe free circulation of pressure fluid through the valve and in eitherof two other'positions directing such fluid to one of a pair ofpressure-responsive units or jacks for the actuation thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve of the classdescribed and of simple, durable and economical construction.

With these objects in view the Ainvention is disclosed by describing thepreferred embodiment thereof in its essential details and claimed in theappending claims.

For a complete understanding the description should be read inconnection with the accom panying drawing forming part of theapplication and wherein: p

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the preferred Lembodiment of myinvention; f

Figure 2 is a transverse section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figures 3 and 4 are front views partly in longitudinal section, eachligure showing the movable valve element in a different position. y y

In the drawing in which like characters of reference designate like orsimilar parts throughout the several views, numeral 5 (Figure 2) denotesa support which may be either of the longitudinal chassis members of amotor vehicle. A valve generally denoted by l consists of a castingcomposed broadly of a cover plate 9 secured by extended cover bolts Illand nuts II to the chassis, an outstanding bearing I3 and horizontallydisposed barrel I5. V

A short shaft I'I is journaled through the bearing and has the inwardlyoffset arm I9 suitably secured to its outer end as indicated at 26(Figure 2). The barrel I5 has headers 2l, 22, the latter having aninternally and axially threaded boss 25 receiving the adjacent end of aninlet pipe 21 which is connected to a source of pressure (not shown).

The back side of barrel I5 has a longitudinal slot through which apintle 30 on the upper end of an arm 3| projects which is carried at theother end by the inner end of shaft Il.

The pintle also projects through a slot in a fixed sleeve 33 which linesthe barrel I5. At the top of the barrel are ports 35, 36 and 3l withwhich pipes 38, 39 and 40 respectively communicate.

The sleeve 33 has ports a, b, therein for port 31, ports c, d, for theport 36 and ports e, f, for port 35. Pipes 38 and 40 may each extend toa pressure-responsive device (not shown) and pipe 39 may be an outlet orreturn conduit for the pressure uid entering through pipe 2'! and maytherefore be connected to the source of pressure.

Slidable in the xed sleeve is a tubular valve element d2 having acircumferential annular groove 44 at its outer intermediate portion forreceiving the pintle on' the upstanding arm 3| (Figure 2). By means ofthe arm 3l the valve 48 is shifted along its longitudinal axis so as tocontrol the opening and closing of the ports 35, 36, 31.

In order to establish communication between these ports through theports b, c, d, e, a pair of grooves g, h, are provided each on one sideof the annular groove 49.

' If the tubular valve 42 is in the intermediate position of Figure 3,pressure iiuid entering through pipe 27 will iiow through ports a, b,groove g', port c or ports f, e, groove h and port d into port 36 andout through pipe 3S to the source of pressure, since this path oiersless resistance than the pipes 38 or 46.

If the valve is in the position of Figure 4 the pressure fluid enteringthrough pipe 21 leaves through pipe 40 and ports 35 and 36 are incommunication.

Obviously the tubular valve element 42 may be shifted to the extremeright with the result that the pressure fluid is directed to flowthrough pipe 38 and ports 36, 3l are in communication.

While the foregoing description sets forth the invention in specificterms, itis to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, sizeand materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

l. A fluid pressure distributing valve comprising a housing comprising acylinder closed at one end and open at the opposite end to a source offluid pressure, said cylinder having a plurality of longitudinallyspaced radial outlet ports opening into its bore, a tubular linerfitting the cylinder bore, said liner being provided with pairs of slotsin the wall thereof, each of said pairs of slots being in communicationwith the adjacent one of said outlet ports, a tubular cylindrical valveslidable longitudinally Within the bore of said liner and havinglongitudinally spaced grooves in its surface, said grooves beingarranged in coacting relation with respectto said pairs of slots, thebores of said tubular liner and said tubular valve being in constantcommunication with said source of fluid pressure, said grooves eachbeing of a width to establish communication between slots related to twoadjacent ports and disestablishing communication between slots of atleast one other port in one position of said valve, whiledisestablishing communication between slots of at least one other portand establishing communication between slots related to two adjacentports in another position of said valve, and means operatively connectedto said valve for longitudinally moving said grooves into differentpositions in said liner.

2. A uid pressure distributing valve comprising a housing comprising acylinder closed at one end and open at the opposite end to a source ofluid pressure, said cylinder having a plurality of longitudinally spacedradial outlet ports opening into its bore, a tubular liner fitting thecylinder bore, said liner being provided with pairs of slots in the wallthereof, each of said pairs of slots being in communication with theadjacent one of said outlet ports, a tubular cylindrical valve slidablelongitudinally within the bore of said liner and having longitudinallyspaced grooves in its surface, said grooves being arranged in coactingrelation with respect to said pairs of slots, the bores of said tubularliner and said tubular valve being in constant communication with saidsource of fluid pressure, said grooves each being of a width toestablish communication between slots related to two adjacent ports anddisestablishing communication between slots of at least one other portin one position of said valve, while disestablishing communicationbetween slots of at least one other port and establishing communicationbetween slots related to two adjacent ports in another position of saidvalve, and means operatively connected to said valve for longitudinallymoving said grooves into different positions in said liner, saidoperating means having a portion passing through opening means providedin said sleeve and connected to said valve.

3. A uid pressure distributing valve comprising a hollow cylindricalhousing having one end closed and having the other end adapted to beconnected to a source of uid under pressure, said cylinder beingprovided with at least three longitudinally spaced radial outlet ports,a tubular liner disposed within said housing and xedly secured to theinner peripheral wall thereof, said liner being provided with at leastthree pairs of longitudinally spaced slots, each of said pairs of slotsbeing in communication with the adjacent one of said outlet ports,closure means positioned within said liner and mounted for limitedsliding movement longitudinally thereof,

said closure means being provided with means arranged in coactingrelation with respect to said pairs of slots for partially const-riotingthe slots in communication with the outlet ports adjacent the ends ofsaid housing in one position of said limited sliding movement to therebycause the uid to pass out through the intermediate one of said ports,and for partially constricting the slots in communication with one ofthe end adjacent ones of said ports and said intermediate one of saidports in another position of said limited sliding movement to therebycause the fluid to pass out through the other of the end adjacent onesof said ports.

4. A uid pressure distributing valve comprising a hollow cylindricalhousing having one end closed and having theother end adapted to beconnected to a source of fluid under pressure, said cylinder beingprovided with at least three longitudinally spaced radial outlet ports,a tubular liner disposed within said housing and xedly secured to theinner peripheral wall thereof, said liner being provided with at leastthree `pairs of longitudinally spaced slots, each of said-pairs of slotsbeing in communication with the adjacent one of said outlet ports,closure means positioned within said liner and mounted for limitedsliding movement longitudinally thereof, said closure means beingprovided with means arranged in coacting relation with respect to saidpairs of slots for partially constricting the slots in communicationwith the outlet ports adjacent the ends of said housing in one positionof said limited sliding movement to thereby cause the fluid to pass outthrough the intermediate one of said ports, and for partiallyconstricting the slots in communication with one of the end adjacentones of said ports and said intermediate one of said ports in anotherpositionoi said limited sliding movement to thereby cause the fluid topass out through the other of the end adjacent ones of said ports, andhand actuable means operable exteriorly of said housing and operativelyconnected to said closure means for effecting said limited slidingmovement.

WESLEY HL BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

